Scouting trip in advance of the PSA derby.

Started out SE of Mercer Island where we had success last year. Wind was up a bit out of the NE first thing in the AM so it was difficult to keep a good trolling pattern. Also, was just me in the boat so only one rod to test out different offerings and depths. Mostly ran the Ace Hi Fly with herring strip here with no success. Gave it about an hour and tested different depths then moved over to SW of Mercer Island to get out of the wind.

Only cutthroat of the day came trolling northbound along west side of the island at about 40' using small abe & al dodger with multi-colored mini squid (thanks to G-Man's excellent reports). Was smallish at about 14" and was C&R.

Moved up to I-90 and worked both sides of the bridge. Caught one kokanee about 11" north side of bridge that was the only fish to come home with me. Jack Lloyd, wedding ring, and worm also at 40'.

Spent some time fishing the face of Newport Bay with no bites and finished out the day looking for a pike minnow back around the Coulon ramp to make bait strips but struck out so it will be back to herring this weekend.

Among the things that the fish didn't bite on this day were the Ace Hi Fly, Sling Blade and Apex, Mack's Double D w/ Cha Cha Squidder. Marked lots of suspects, but it was pretty tough sledding to get two small fish...this is why it's called fishing not catching, I suppose. Did notice a couple of stickleback floaters at the ramp on the way in so maybe the cutties were stuffed too full to care about my offerings.

Hoping for more willing biters during the derby as I'll have the Fish Princess out there and want her to have her shot at a couple of MONSTA's!!

Good Luck and Tight Lines!

Fish Dawg

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